April 8, 2017
Lenten Devotions – Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther

He’s Risen, He’s Risen
By: C. Ferdinand Walther

He’s risen, he’s risen, Christ Jesus, the Lord;
Death’s prison he opened, incarnate, true Word.
Break forth, hosts of heaven, in jubilant song
While earth, sea, and mountain the praises prolong.

The foe was triumphant when on Calvary
The Lord of creation was nailed to the tree.
In Satan’s domain his hosts shouted and jeered, For Jesus was slain, whom the evil ones feared.

But short was their triumph, the Savior arose,
And death, hell, and Satan he vanquished, his foes; The conquering Lord lifts his banner on high. He lives, yes, he lives, and will nevermore die.

Oh, where is your sting, death? We fear you no more; Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden’s door. For all our transgressions his blood does atone; Redeemed and forgiven, we now are his own.

Then sing your hosannas and raise your glad voice; Proclaim the blest tidings that all may rejoice. Laud, honor, and praise to the Lamb that was slain; In glory he reigns, yes, and ever shall reign.

Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther was the first President of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). He would go on to be one of its most influential theologians. He is commemorated by the LCMS church on May 7. He has been described as a man who sacrificed his homeland, his health, and nearly his life for the freedom to live freely and to believe freely. He was dedicated to his Church and the faith for those he loved.

“During his college years at Leipzig, Germany, Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther faced two crucial events. The first was a spiritual crisis in which, with the help of Martin Stephan, he came to an assurance that God had justified him by his grace. Shortly afterward, Walther nearly died from a lung disease. He had to interrupt his studies for six months while he recuperated. Those months were not wasted, though. While laid up, he read Martin Luther’s works. He became absolutely convinced that Lutheran theology was correct and that the historical Lutheran statements of faith such as the Augsburg Confession and the Book of Concord needed to be fully accepted. This decision led to another crisis. When he graduated, he tutored for a time, then was ordained and took a pastorate in the Kingdom of Saxony. However, German church leadership was embracing rationalistic views (explaining away the Scriptures and key doctrines) which rubbed against Walther’s insistence that there must be complete commitment to the traditional Lutheran faith.

Walther joined 750 like-minded Lutherans and emigrated to America. Led by Martin Stephan, these Germans settled near St. Louis, Missouri. Stephan proved to be both undemocratic and a skirt-chaser. The Lutherans excommunicated him and asked Walther to take his place. He preached many sermons, started the “log college” which grew into Concordia Seminary, and founded two church papers. Walther never deviated from his solid commitment to the written statements of the Lutherans. Again and again, he pointed his people back to the great confessions of his church. On them they must take their stand. He called one statement of faith “our dear Formula of Concord” –and meant it.

He wrote a hymn which was later translated into English by Anna M. Meyer. His own note says, “on the first Easter Day, April 8, 1860, on the Ocean.” (C.F.W. Walther Completed “He’s Risen, He’s Risen”, Dan Graves, Christianity.com) This week collect one roll of paper towel to bring in for Trinity’s Table.

Pastor Dave